In Their Own Words

February 03, 1738

Stephens Met with Colonists at Frederica

William Stephens wrote in his journal about visiting with the colonists in Frederica:

“…In the Evening I had the ready
Consent of the Magistrates and Constables to sit an
Hour or two with me, from whom I was very well pleased
to hear, that they all lived in perfect Peace and Quiet,
without Fear of any Disturbance from Abroad, and with-
out any Strife or Contention of Law at Home, where
they sometimes opened a Court, but very rarely had any
Thing to do in it : They seemed to shew some Concern,
that there was so little Appearance of Improvements
made on their Land last Year, which was owing to the
continued Alarm from the Spaniards, and the frequent
Duty they were upon (and that was well known) which
they hoped would be a just Excuse for them ; and they
assured me, that there was very few (if any) but who
went on now in good Earnest this Season to do all in
their Power : All of which I myself was partly an Eye-
Witness of, and could the more easily believe : They ex
pressed a great Desire of gaining the good Will of the
honourable Trustees ; and I told them, I would do them
Justice in representing it ; and moreover could assure
them of obtaining their Favour in Proportion to their
future Diligence and good Behaviour.”